Took BCMSN 2 years ago, how long do I have to pass CCNP?

Trifidw

Hello,

2 years ago I passed the BCMSN (switch) exam and have not worked towards the CCNP any further. I plan to take ROUTE before the start of the summer holidays but wondered if I need to take TSHOOT before the end of the third year? Can anyone clarify on this?

Thanks.

SharkDiver

I am pretty sure that you have 3 years from the date you pass the first exam to pass the other 2.

I don't know exactly how the BCMSN fits into that though. My info is from the SWITCH, ROUTE and TSHOOT.

Trifidw

Thanks, that was my understanding too. I'll probably study both at the same time and take route and then TSHOOT a week or 2 after. Would be good to finally be a CCNP.

martell1000

every exam is valid for 3 years and every exam you pass renews all the others for 3 years. so in your case you will need too take ROUTE or TSHOOT before the BCMSN exam gets 3 years old. this will extend your passed exams on the same level for another 3 years.

you can also use the CCNP calculator on the cisco website:

CCNP Exam Combination Tool - Career Certifications & Paths - Cisco Systems

Netwurk

The old track had 4 exams. BCMSN counts the same as if you passed SWITCH. BCSI counts the same as if you had passed ROUTE. The other 2 don't count at all. Like others have said, you have 3 years from your eligible pass from the old track to gain your CCNP.

networker050184

martell1000 wrote: »

every exam is valid for 3 years and every exam you pass renews all the others for 3 years. so in your case you will need too take ROUTE or TSHOOT before the BCMSN exam gets 3 years old. this will extend your passed exams on the same level for another 3 years.

you can also use the CCNP calculator on the cisco website:

CCNP Exam Combination Tool - Career Certifications & Paths - Cisco Systems

The exams themselves do not renew. Passing an exam will renew certifications (as in a CCNP or CCIP) but will not "renew" the pass date of an exam (as in BCMSN or SWITCH). Unless this is something that has changed fairly recently.

martell1000

networker050184 wrote: »

The exams themselves do not renew. Passing an exam will renew certifications (as in a CCNP or CCIP) but will not "renew" the pass date of an exam (as in BCMSN or SWITCH). Unless this is something that has changed fairly recently.

oh you are right... i kinda got this wrong, since any cert i got till now was a single exam and so got recertified when taking the next one ...

Daniel333

Yeah, took me just over 2 years to finish the whole thing myself. Once you have the route and switch down, tshoot is easy. Sounds like you need to retake your switch exam though

Trifidw

Daniel333 wrote: »

Sounds like you need to retake your switch exam though

Why? It's not going to be a problem (could probably do it with next to no revision) but would be a waste of £100.

Roguetadhg

networker050184 wrote: »

The exams themselves do not renew. Passing an exam will renew certifications (as in a CCNP or CCIP) but will not "renew" the pass date of an exam (as in BCMSN or SWITCH). Unless this is something that has changed fairly recently.

I was given the impression that you'd have 3 years per test. Not three years total to complete the testing. Although, the latter makes more sense in a world that's always changing. I asked on cisco forums a while ago.

networker050184

An exam is valid for three years. Say for example you take ROUTE and then four years later take SWITCH and TSHOOT you would need to do ROUTE again. If you have a CCNP and then two years later take BGP it will renew the CCNP certification, but not the pass date on your ROUTE exam.

Make sense?

Roguetadhg

networker050184 wrote: »

An exam is valid for three years. Say for example you take ROUTE and then four years later take SWITCH and TSHOOT you would need to do ROUTE again. If you have a CCNP and then two years later take BGP it will renew the CCNP certification, but not the pass date on your ROUTE exam.

Make sense?

Just looking for clarification then:

1. I pass my ROUTE.
2. It takes me 2 and 11 months, and finally pass my SWITCH exam.
3. It takes me another 2 years and 11 months, to pass the TSHOOT exam

ROUTE at which point expired. I would need to retake my ROUTE within the month to earn my CCNP.

Any other Professional-level (and below) Certifications would be refreshed with each Exam pass.

networker050184

You got it. Certifications are renewed, not exams.

Trifidw

Cheers for the replies everyone.

There's no point delaying TSHOOT anyway so will get it done ASAP. Watch this space.